The President was using the powerful and emotional story as a parable for America: it has suffered a terrible set-back in the Great Recession, but is now bouncing back. The United States, Obama was suggesting, is also on an improbable path to recovery.

Of course, none of this changes the fact that President Obama is in peril. He's a second term President dealing with a dysfunctional and paralysed Congress.

Already Washington's focus is moving to the 2016 race. It's too soon to describe Obama as a lame duck, but he is entering the final months in which he can shape the political agenda.

US President Barack Obama salutes Sgt. First Class Cory Remsburg during the standing ovation. Credit: APTN

Last night's State of The Union was a ritual that only briefly obscured the poisonous atmosphere here. The President spoke about 2014 being a year of action. It's more likely to be a year of ill-tempered stagnation.

He spoke of reforming the tax code, of immigration reform, and of grasping opportunity. But none of this will come to pass. So the President chose to rally Americans to the one issue that no one will contest: The bravery of US soldiers fighting in unpopular and poorly managed wars.

It was a deft touch by Obama, reminding us of his skill as a speaker and his ability to appeal to Americans' optimistic spirit. But as he hits the road today to sell his message in Maryland and Pennsylvania, Obama knows that the Republicans are spoiling for a fight.